Worksheet: Lamarck versus Darwin’s Evolutionary Theory

The theory of evolution emerges from different lines of evidence, such as fossil records,

modification by descent, and the evidence from biogeography, genetics and other forms

of evidence. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829) and Charles Darwin (1809-1882) had

different theories about how life on earth got to be the way it is now.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829)

Lamarck was a French biologist who is best known for

his Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics,

first presented in 1801.

He believed that evolution was the “acquired traits” of a

species that is inherited by its offspring. His theory was

that if an organism continually used a structure to carry

out a certain task, the structure used would become

physically modified over time to make the task easier.

This modified structure would then be passed on to any

offspring. For example, if a short-nosed elephant was continually stretching out its

trunk to try to reach the leaves high up in trees, it’s trunk would stretch and

become longer over time, and any babies that it had would be born with longer

trunks.

Lamarck also believed that when body parts were not being used, such as the human

appendix, they gradually disappear. Eventually, people will be born without these parts.

Lamarck believed that evolution happens according to a prearranged plan and that the

results have already been decided.

Charles Darwin (1809 -1882)

Charles Darwin is famous for the theory of evolution and

Natural Selection, or ‘Survival of the Fittest’. He dedicated his

life to studying plants and animals and believed that the

desires of animals have nothing to do with how they evolve.

He said that organisms, even of the same species, are

different in some ways, and over time those creatures which

are adaptable, survive, while those that do not adapt to

changing conditions, such as climatic and environmental

change, do not live to breed and pass on their genes. He

came to the conclusion that there was a variation of physical

and behavioral features within a species. Organisms which

had features that helped them to adapt to their environment

and circumstances had a better chance of survival than

individuals who lacked these features. These adaptable

organisms survived to breed and produce offspring which generally inherited the

‘successful’ features of their parents. He called this process ‘natural selection’.

Darwin knew that organisms evolved and changed from generation to generation, but

did not know how traits were passed on from one generation to another. Only after

more was understood about genetics, was this explained. Darwin also suggested that

each species evolves over time and adapts to the environment in which they live. Thus,

the same species living in different environments will evolve differently and become

more and more differentiated (different) over time. He believed that all species of life

on Earth are interrelated and have a common ancestor.

Questions

Study the following pictures and then answer the questions that follow.

1. What is natural selection?

2. Is it a fact or a theory? Explain your answer.

3. What science was developed later which was found to support Darwin’s theory?

4. Which theory sounds like an explanation that Lamarck might give? Explain your

answer.

5. Which theory sounds like an explanation that Darwin might give? Explain your

answer.

6. What are the specific clues that most clearly distinguish a Darwinian explanation

from a Lamarckian explanation?

7. What term did Lamarck use to explain how new species emerged?

8. What term did Darwin use to explain how new species emerged?

9. Do you think there is any similarity in the theories proposed by the two

scientists? Explain.

10. Create a brief summary of the main differences between the two theories

relating to the point below. Use the following table for your summary.

11. Evolutionary biologists studied both Lamarck and Darwin’s theories very

carefully. Darwin’s theory has been supported by a lot of evidence. Lamarck’s

Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics has been disproved. Write a

paragraph on why we should believe Darwin and disprove Lamarck. Give suitable

examples to back your argument.